Intent(85)

She sits on the couch with her brow furrowed, her thumbnail between her teeth, and she’s staring at a spot on the floor. She’s obviously deep in thought and weighing all of her options. When she finally looks back up at me, her eyes look clearer than they have in a while. The sorrow and dread are gone and she seems to have formulated a plan.

“Layne, I’ve decided I want to go forward with the adoption,” she announces.

“Zoe, I didn’t offer the school for you to give me your baby in return. That’s not how this works.”

“I know—I’d never think that about you. When I thought Jeremy wanted us to be a family, I agreed to stop the adoption because I thought he loved me. I decided to keep the baby for the wrong reason. I was so desperate for someone to love me, to make me feel like I was worthy of that love, I jumped at the chance without even thinking. Without realizing that I already have all the love I could ever need…from you.

“Hopefully someday, I’ll be as good as you are at this. But if I’ve learned anything about myself from all this, it’s that I’m not ready yet. Will you please adopt my baby so I’ll never have to question if she’s in a safe, loving home?”

Unable to hide the tears of joy that immediately spring to my eyes, I let them flow freely. “If you’re sure, then yes, I’d love to adopt your baby. Since Ace and I are married now, it’d probably be best if I talk to him first, though.”

“Ace says yes!” he yells from the kitchen.

Zoe and I both laugh at his antics. “I think Mr. Sharp is also in agreement, Zoe.” Turning my head toward the kitchen, I call out to him. “Ace, honey? Can you come here for a minute?”

I watch him as he walks toward me, and I send up a silent prayer of thanks that he’s mine. With his signature confident stride, the way his wide shoulders and chest fill out his shirt, and how his jeans complement his muscular legs, it’s no wonder Margot wants him back so badly. But he’s mine, and I’ll fight tooth and nail to keep my place in his life.

He stops in front of me and bends over to kiss my cheek. “Careful, or we’ll put on a show for them,” he murmurs against my cheek, just in front of my ear.

Instantly, I duck my face to hide my heated cheeks. I always get busted undressing him with my eyes.

“I’m here, as summoned. How may I serve you?”

I slowly lift one eyebrow and purposely lick my lips before answering him. His gaze follows the path of my tongue and continues to linger on my lips for several seconds afterward. “Zoe needs somewhere safe to live until she goes off to school. Do you have any suggestions?”

“As a matter of fact, I happen to know of a great place she can live. Very cozy and homey. Wonderful people. Handsome, strong man around to protect all his beautiful ladies. He’s also an excellent handyman who can clean out the spare room and make it a habitable guest room in no time. Best of all, she can get it at a steal.”

“How can you say no to that offer, Zoe?” I laugh and shake my head at my husband’s wit. He has the best heart of any man I’ve ever known.

“If you’re both sure,” she replies timidly.

“We’re both sure,” Ace confirms.

“I didn’t bring any of my stuff with me, though. I’ll have to go back and get it.”

“I’d rather you didn’t. It’s not safe for you to be around her, especially if she figures out you’re moving back in here with us. We’ll figure something else out,” I insist.

“Dinner’s ready,” Marcia calls from the kitchen.

The three of us join her and River in the kitchen for an extended family meal. Talking, laughing, poking fun at each other—these are the times that matter when it’s all said and done. These are the memories that’ll sustain us through the hard times, bring us back to what’s important in life, and remind us why we’re even here.

After dinner, I collect the dirty dishes and move to the sink to start cleaning up the kitchen. Marcia walks up beside me to help, but Ace stops her before she can start. “I’ll help Layne with the dishes, Mom. You cooked, we’ll clean, and you can play with River. She seems to like you just a little bit,” he says in his Southern drawl.

“Okay. I can take a hint as well as anyone. But all you really have to say is, ‘Mom, I want to talk to Layne alone, so beat it.’ That’s not so hard, is it?”

“Hey, Mom. Beat it,” he replies as he jerks his thumb over his shoulder.

She walks off to the sound of their combined laughter. I cut my eyes up to Ace flirtatiously and lower my voice to sound sexy. “So, you wanted to get me all alone?”

“Yes, indeed,” he replies in his bedroom voice. “I have you trapped now. There’s no way out.”

“I don’t want out.”

“I know what you do want.” He leans into me, the scent of his masculine cologne wafts around me, and he holds my gaze captive with his smoldering eyes. “You want to keep trying to fool me. You’re not feeling better yet?”

“What?” That wasn’t at all what I expected him to say.

“You hardly ate anything. You just pushed it around on your plate to make it look like you’ve eaten more than you really did.” He straightens his back, crosses his arms over his chest, and looks down his nose at me.